Rotary engine.



R. n. cowLEs,v ROTARY ENGINE.- APPLICATION Flt-ED NILE 25, I911.

Pat nted Oct; 1,

ITNESSES:

R. H. COWLES.

ROTARY ENGINE. 'APHPLICATION' mco mn; 25. I9l7- Patented 0a. 11, 191a. J 5 SHEETSSHEET Z \V [TN KISSES :1 I

['7 v eh tar n. mzowus. I ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED HJRE 25. I91?- i Patentd ocmlplsf s sui s wrtbmssms:

- R. H. cowLE sL ROTARY ENGINE. I APPUCATION FILED'IUNE 25. I9 l1 Patented 00th 1, 1 918.

it" f 1g.z7 P

wrmmssms: VIN v ENT-OR WM H BAY H. COWLES, OF SAN FRANCISCO, O ALIFORNIA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification o! um" Patent.

Ifatented' Oct. 1, 1918.

Application filed June 25, 1817. ,flerial No. 178,749.

To all wkonhit may concern:

Be it known that IJRAY H. Oownus, a citizen of the United tates, residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which.

the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a rotary, multicylinder, four-cycle'gas en no; i

Fig. 5

' Fig. 6 is One of the objects of t e present invention is to construct a fpuncycle internal combustion engine of the rotary cylinder type, which is so designed thatvibration is reduced to. a minimum, the volumetric eflic'iency is considerably increased, and the cooling of the cylinders renhred more effective and uniform. Another object of the invention is to provide an engine of the character described whichembodies a novel cyL inder mounting, a valve mechanism, a cam" shaft drive and mounting, a piston and fly wheel connection, an ignition mechanism, and other details of, construction which permit ready dismantling, fuel economy, reduced wei ht, better lubrication, and other features w ich will hereinafter be more fully described, having reference to the accoml panying drawings, in which-'- Figure]. is a side elevation of theengine. Fig. 2 is a detailview of thecam gears, Fig. 3 is an enlarged'cross section on line Fig. 4 is an enlarged centra cross section of the engine, partly broken away;

isa cross section on l ne 5-.-5 of alongitu iinal section through F'i 4. ig. a cross Bed-ion of one ,of the cyl-. inders, showing the connectlon between Fig. 6.

piston rod and the fly-wh'eel.

' Fig. 8 is a siinila1'-' View taken at light.

7 an les to Fig. 7.-

- ehe'ckvalve and lubricating pump of Fi s;

g."9 is Uplan'vi'ew 'of Fig. 8. i

Fig. 10 is, an enlarged detail view of the sna 11 employed in' connectioni'with each cylinder.

is a cross section on line 11 11 1 a v the intelhediflepars-18, areeac provided y A Fig. 12 is a'detail view of'the auxilia air valve. locking cam.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of the lubricating system.

' l t is a diagrammatic view of the tam ystem.

Fig. 15 is Idiagrammatie plan view of the engine.

Fig. 1'6is a side elevation, partly broken awlg, of a, propeller blade showin the met odof securing it between the fly-w eels;

Fig, 17 is a plan view ofFig. 16.

Fig. 18 shows how the .inner ends of the pro or blades are, secured and also =the position of the magneto. g

. tothe. drawings in'detail, A indicates; stationa crank-shaft, 2 the webs of the shaft, and 8 t e crank pin. Mounted to rotate about the crank: pin is. a hub member 4, which in this instance serves as a multi-cylinder head, a valve casing, a hearing for, the cylinders in general indicated at 5, 6 and 7, respectively, a mixing cham-. ber for'the incoming gas and a housing for the cam shaft, toget er with the gear mechanisrn'whereby it is operated. l

Interiorly of the hub member is aninternal gear .8 and secured on the stationary crank pin 3 isa spur gear 9. Turnably mounted in ball bearings 10, supported within the hub, is a sleeve 11, andjournaled on pmiectin arms12 carried by said sleeves is, a panof' ntermediate gears 13 which irrtermesh both with the internal the spur gear 9. The, h'mem or proper is also mounted upon ball arings, as shown 18 adapted to revolve a crank 'pin 8- when the engine 1s operating.

The internal gear will turn in unison with the hub andcylindera' and will thereby ixnand the spur gear. 9, togethenfwith ratio is one to three, that the m gear is provided with-thirty I0 part a revolving movement to'the intermedi 3 with twelve. teeth. The internal gear, to-

-- gether with the huoand cylinders carried thereby, will, therefore, make one and onethird revolutions while the intermediate I cylinder once..during each two revolutions of the hub member and the cylinders.

The inlet'valves as here shown are positioned centrally and directly at the'inner end of each cylinder. They are, furthermore, guided at their upper ends in a bearin'g formed in the valveseat 18 and at their inner ends in bearings 19 formed in a guide ring 20. A spring 21, interposed between the valve'lseat and a collar'on the inner end of the rod, normally holds each. inlet valve on its seat. and a roller secured on the inner end of each rod, when engaged by one of the cams 15, serves to lift the valve from its seat when a cooperating piston assumes the proper position.

The exhaust valves are arranged on the forward side of each-cylinder as close to the inner end as possible. They are also carried bya valve seat 21' and the stems are guided in a. bearing formedcentrall'y thereof. Each valve is similarly held in its seat by a spring 22 and is lifted angry from its seat by a rocker-arm 2.3 which is operated by a pu shrod =24. guided in a bearing 25 formed in the hub member. Each push-rod is provided with a roller at its inner end which is engaged at the proper time' by one of the cams 15, thereby forcing each rod in an outward direction to operate the rockerarms and lift the connected exhaust :valves from their seats.

Mounted in each cylinder is a piston 26 which is provided with a cross-headpin 27, and turnablymounted oneach cross hea'd pin is a connecting rod 28, the outer-end of which, is pivotally conncctedto'a pin 29 secured in a fly-wheel consisting of two rim sectioris 30 and 31. Each rim section, of the-fly-wheel is supported bvspokes=32 and these are in turn secured to ulbinen'ibers 33 journaled on ball bearings 34 carried-by the main crank shaft A. The fly' wheel proper is concentrically positioned with relation to thecrank shaft A while the cylinders and connected hub 4 areeccentrically positioned.

This construction; permits each individual piston member to E'be connected" with the rim of the fly-wheclras indicated at 3'5, ztmlfifurthermore, permits each" individual cyiinden to be" connected'with the flywheel riiw'by mean! of an extension 36 and a crank arm.

37. Each extension 36 and crank arm 37 when said position is reached.

1 serves the function of a master connecting rod; that is, it permits-freedoin of movement between the cylinders and [iv-wheel but will at the same time maintain a fixed relation between the same during each revolution.

The eccentric position of the cylinders with relation to the fly-wheel is such that ,the pistons will assume their outermost poshows a puppet valve movement which permits a four-cycle principle of operation. This can be understood when it is taken into consideration that the sleeve carrying the cams 15 only revolves one revolution while each cylinder revolves 1;; revolutions. Each cam will, therefore, open and. close each exhaust and inlet valve once during each two revolutions of .each cylinder, thereby permitting. a founcycle function to take place with relation to each cylinder.

Referring to Fig. 4, the'cycle of cylinder 5 can be seen. Theinlet valve 16 is positioned directly behind cam 15 and as the cylinder revolves at a greater speed than the sleeve supporting the cam 15 it can be seen that valve 16 will be opened and remain open while the cylinder is turned from the position shown, at 5 to an opposite position in direct alinement therewith. An explosive mixture or charge is admitted from the carbureter, indicated at 40, through .a passage 41 formedin the hollow crank shaft andcrank pin. This charge escapes through ra dially positioned ports 42 and slots formed in the camsleeve directly intothe chamber formed within thehnb member. 4. It

then passes bythe inletvalve'16 directly into the. cylinder 5 during the outward travel of the pistonywhich takes place while such that the roller on the lower end of the inlet valve will just pass over the cam 15 The valye will close at this point and thereby permit the chargeadmittcd to be compressed while .the cylinder travelsfron'i its lower position to the upper position.

The charge compressed is now ignited by a circuit. established through a spark plug indicated at 43. thus forcing the piston in an outward direction during its travel from pcsition to a point directly greater speed of the cylinder is such that the rolleroperating the pusher rod of the exfrom the lower sition. The expan ed or burnt charge will,

, therefore, be exhausted as the piston travels inwardly. The four cycles of operation have been completed during two revolutions of" the cylinder or during 11} revolutions of the sleeve carrying the cams 15 "and 15.

The inlet valve of the cylinder 5 at the commencement of the first cycle stands in the position shown in Fig. 4 with relation a, cam 15 so that the movement of the cylind'er from the upper to the lower position will open the inlet .valvc. The positionof the cam 15 after the four strokes incyhnder 5 have been completed will be the same as [the iosition of ca|n.. .15. It will then open the inlet valve of cylinder 5 and permit the next cycle of operation to take place. Each. cam 15 and 15* alternately operates one cylinder and as their position is always fixed or timed with relation to each other, due to the gear ratio, it can readily be seen that each cylinder will complete a" cycle of operation during two revolutions of the hub member.

The current employed for the operation of the spark plugs i3 is supplied by a high tension magneto ndicated atB supported on SIS with a gear on the web 2 of cured on the hub member which intermeshes the magneto. The current passes throu h a Wire 4:5 which is connected with a distri uter 46 secured in a stationary ring 47, and a second ring 48 surrounding the ring 47 travels with the cam sleeve.

This ring carries a pair of contacts 49 which are adapted to engage brushes 50 trave ling with the hub member. The current is distributed through said brushes to the individual plugs at the proper time, niting the charges, the wiring diagram of the magneto circuit being shown in Fig. 14. Itwill be n oticed, by referring to the drawings, that the force of each explosion is exerted to drive the pistons in an outw ard direction and. not to drive them inwardly as is usually the case. l his is one of the imortant features of the present invention as the blow.- or shock evxerted by each. ex losion is distributed to the periphery of tie dye wheel, the widely separated bearings 34 supporting same; and particularly against the hub'bearing or crank pin 3'. In other words, a large bearing area is provided to ab sorb the shock of each explosion. An ad" vantage is furthermore takenof the fact that the power generated is exerted on the samg,

opposite. The retarded movement of the cam sleeve or the the stationary crank shaft. This magneto is driven from a gearalso thereby ig loose or worn 0011* to operate without The cylinders and pistons arefurther 30 cooled by providing the following structure: Secured onthe outer end of each cylinder is a head member 52, in the center portion of which is secured a semi-circular sliding plate 53 through which the Slidably mounted on each piston-rod is a socket collar 5.4 which is pivotally mounted in the sliding plate, and formed in each cylinder proper are two sets of auxiliar' ports 55 and 56. Each piston on its inwar ment draws in a charge of fresh air through the ports 55 and 56 which is part1 expelled during the outward movement of the pistons. A portion of thisair is trapped during the outward end of the piston will close said ports and compress the charge between the head 52 and the piston. This charge of compressed air isf admitted to the firing chamber of the cylinder during the end of the suction stroke and 100 also at the beginning of the exhaust stroke. The air under compression admitted during the suction .strokes increases the volumetric capacity of the cylinder, while the charge admitted during the exhaust stroke assists 105 in more thoroughly scavenging any burnt gases that might remain. I

The air compressed between the head 52 and the piston is admitted to the firing chamber through. a valve 57 carried in the 110 head of the piston.

The cam is in shown at 58" in Fig. 7, to permit it to st-radas shown at 58?, under certam conditions.

seen that it will rock or oscillate in unison with same and also that this movement may I be utilized to positively close the valve. taining of the valve in closed-position while the piston is moving outwardly on the ex-u haust. stroke ,is of great importance as a charge of head 52.- This air,

pressure, would force the valve open' -the' the centrifugal action of thchevoh o5 ted for aviation purposes ositioned on the forward side of piston rods 28 pass.

movestroke of the piston, as the lower reality fork-shaped, as

fresh alr is simultaneously being." compressed between the piston and the outer when reaching a; certain index-s, while" opening of the valve, after the pressure, this being particularly true when the piston has moved to a point where the auxiliary exhaust ports 56 have been uncovered, as the air pressure would then reach the maximum pressure while the exhaust gases would attain their minimum pressure.

, Opening of the valve at this point would permit the air under pressure to esca e through the ports 56 and would only e wasted, while opening of the valve on the return stroke of the piston, that is, after the ports 56 have been covered, will be a great.

benefit'both for cooling and scavenging m. poses as the air under pressure thus admitted would-pass through,the cylinder and drive the remaining gases through the exhaust valve proper, thus completely scavenging the cylinder and also serving as a means a for assisting in cooling same.

The valve should not open before the piston has moved sufliciently far on the return stroke to cover the. uxiliary exhaust ports. This is not only important during the exhaust stroke but also during the compression stroke. If the piston has moved outwardly and drawn in a fresh charge of explosive mixture, opening of; the valve would only permit the compressed air to escape through the ports and would, therefore,"

not add to the volumetric charge of the cylpiston has closed the auxiliary exhaust ports, permits the charge to enter the cylinder and thereby materially increases the charge in volume. The opening of the valve at this point is of great importance both during the scavenging and during the compression stroke. r

The means provided for controlling the opening 'of the valve is thecam 58. The OR,

set is formed at a point where the oscillating movement of the connecting rod permits'the valve to open justafter the piston has passed the auxiliary exhaust ports. The valve automatically seats itself the moment the excess pressure in'the outer end of the cylinder has escaped and equalized itself with the a charge in the firing end Of the cylinder.

Compression of the, charge in the firing end of the cylinder, together with the centrifugal force, will quickly close the valve' and it will naturally remain closed at, all times except when a high pressure is produced in the outer end of the cylinder; the cam. 58 being merely provided for the purpose ofholdingthe valve against being opened when the piston reaches the extreme outer end of its stroke, because opening of the v alve at this point would merely permit an escape of the compressed charge without any material beneficial result. The outward vmovement of each piston is such that the.

ports 56 will be uncovered both during the a suction andv the exhaust stroke, theieby per mitting s id ports to serve as auxiliary exhaust por s. The ports 55 and 56 also permit the cool air tocirculate thr ugh the outer end of each cylinder when i is uncovcred b' the piston, thus materially decreasing t e temperature of same. A fresh charge of air is, of course, admitted during each reciprocation of each piston and the said charge is also compressed and .assed through the pistons and valves once uring each reciprocation. The cylinders therefore, not only cooled, both externally and internally, but advantage is also taken for utilizing. the compressed charges to more thoroughly scavenge the cylinders and also to increase the volumetric charge during each suction stroke.

The engine as a whole'is lubricated in the following manner: 60 indicates a tank or other suitable Source of supply from which lubricating-oil is delivered to a bearing member 34. Secured. on the crank shaft, interiorly of the bearing member, is an eccentric 61 (see Figs. 3 and 6), and mounted in the revolving part of the bearing member is a pluralitv of spring-actuated ported istons 62. Each piston mounted in the llow spoke 32 connecting with a "crank pin 29 and oil is forced out through said-hollow spokes into the pins 29 and then through passages formed in the connecting rods into passages formed in the ins 27. The oil is herepermitted wrist to disc arge on each side of the piston and {will thoroughly lubricate the innerwalls ofthe cylinders. No oil has atendenoy to pass beyond the piston into the compression space as the centrifugal action has. a tendenc to force the lubricating oil out war ly against the head 52 which is set in,

.The oil draining outwardly through leach cylinder is permitted to pass throu h a ported pumping piston 67 (see Figs. and 10) similar to thelpistons- 61; These pistons are-reciprocated by engagement with the main pistons and serve as force pumps 7 to drive t through a tube 69 back to the hub member, The hub member is provided with an annular channel for the reception of said oil ings and is also permitted to pass, by centrifugal action, through a pipe- 7 0 back to the cylindeis to be again returned by the v I are,

e oil' past a check-valve 68 and and it serves to lubricate the gear'sand been sfii r ai. I .1 taming a famed-circulation, it is obvious lacedifroxn the source 'ofsu pIysI-ihdicated E the-tank .1;

' istons '67 and 61' are' 'here ded for the purpose ofmainthataiiy othersuitable form of force pum may in'e, between. the source 0 sn pi: and the eng'ine, if desired. a

v y referring'to the diagrammatic plan a view ofthe'engine shown in Fi 15, it' will' be seen that the crank shaft 15 provided with two offsets indicated at 71 and 72 and that two, sets ofcylinders each comprising a unit Qo'fthre'e is providedl This is of considrable importance as it permits a perfect balance and practically eliminates vihration of the'revolving parts. The pistons,

shaft of 'twistin' strains, as it is supported at each end, and allowing a lighter constru'cti'on than Where the" entire poweroutput of the engine is transmitted through one end of the shaft only. v c

The provisionof two units of cylinders spaced apart and positioned with relation to each other, as here shown, is another imortant feature, as it 'ermits'the propeller lades to besecure between same. The blade stresses are ,artly equalized by being supported and riven from a pot proximity to the center of-the stre as inner ends of'the b ,hown at 91, in effect allowing a reduction in weight an increasefin efiiciency by reduction of blade vibration, and a high rate of speed with, safety. Furthermore, the three blades shbwvn .may' be maintained apart and they are at all times rlgidly braced by the spokes 32, the particular manner of fastening theblades at the o int 90 *being shown in Fi s, 16 and'17 w 1le the ades may beseeured, as shown in Figs. 15 and 1,8, to a ring 92. I Having thus I I'claim anddesire tosecure by Letters Patentis-flf ,v

1. In" a rotary internal combustion engine, a stationary crank shaft, ag fly wheel ournaled on the shaft, a plurality ofcylinders journaled to revolve about the crank pin on the shaft, a driving connection between "the cylinders and the fly Wheel] rmltting eccentric movement of one Wit rela-,

tion to the-other, a piston in each cylinder, a connecting rod connecting each piston described my invention, what ith the fly wheel, means foradmitting an explosive mixture through the inner end of each cylinder and means for igniting said-mixture. y

2. In a rotary. engine, a stationarycrank shaft, a fly-wheel, 'O'urnaled on the shaft, a"

plurality of cylin ersjourna'led to revolva about the crank imof the shaft within the ,fly-wheel, a cra connection between each cylinder and the fly-wheel, apiston in each cylinder, a connecti I connecting each iston with the fly-Wheeh'an inlet and anal!- aust valve'in the inner end-,o'feaich linder, and meansfhr admitting anaflXi iary;

charge: of compressed air 'to' each" cylinder durin each sliction'and scavengingstroke; 3. shaft, a fly-wheel 'ournaled on the shaft, a, plurality of cyli ers journaled to revolve about the crank inof the shaft withinthe fly-wheel, a cra connection between each cylinder'and the fly-wheel, a piston in each cylinder, a connectin rod connecting each piston with the flg-w eel, an inlet and anexhaust valve in t I inder, a closure for the outer end of each vc linder, a sliding plnte in; each closure e inner end of each-cylt rou h which the piston rods pass means be'ycomfor a ittingair to each cylinderto pressed between the closures and the pistons during the outward movement of the pistons, and means fortransferring said air charges when compressed to the firing chambers of the cylinder.

4. In a rotary eng1ne,a stationary-crank shaft, a fly-wheel {ournaled on the shaft, a plurality. of cylinc ers journaled to" revolve about the crank pinof the shaft. within the fiy-wheel, a crank connectionbetween each cylinder and the fly-wheel, a pistonin each cylinder, a connecting rod" connecting each piston with the H ewheel, an inlet and an exhaust valve in t e inner end of each cyl inder, a closure for the outer end of each cylinder, a sliding plate in each closure thipu which the (piston rods pass, ports; formed in each cylin er to admit air-between the closures and the pistons ranged to be coveredb saidpo fi being yth'e piston during their outwardstroke to permlt-compre'ssion a of the air adnyitted,--- alvalve in each piston and means for,-\ opening"{andvalves 'to pa flv-Wheel,,a crank connection between each cylinder and the fly-wheel, a piston in each c linder, a connectin rodconnecting each piston with' the flyeel, an inlet closing 1 sai a com ressed air charge to I be admitted to the firm-g chamber of each cylinder both durin thescav'enging stroke.

Ill

80 na rotary engine, a stationary crank l exhaust valve in the inner end of each cylinder, a sleeve member journaled to revolve about the crank pin, a pair of cam members carried by said sleeve, and means for transmitting movement from the rotating cylinders to turn the sleeve so that each inlet and exhaust valve will beopened once during each two revolutions of the cylinders.

(3. In a rotary engine, a stationary crank shaft, a fly-wheel Journaled on. the shaft, a plurality of cylinders journaled to rcvolvc about the crank pin of the shaft within the fly -wheel, a crank connection between each cylinder and the fly-wheel, a piston in each cylinder, a connecting rod connecting each piston with the fly-wheel, an inlet and an exhaust valve in the inner end of each cylinder, a. sleeve member journaled to re volve about the crank pin, a pair of cam members carried by said sleeve, a stationary gear secured on the crank pin, an internal gear adapted to revolve with the cylinders, and intermediate gears carried by the sleeve intermeshing both with the stationary gear and the internal gear adapted to transmit movement from the internal. gear to revolve the sleeve 1-1; revolutions while the internal gear makes two revolutions.

7. A rotary engine comprising a stationary crank shaft, a hollow hub member journaled to revolve about the crank pin of the shaft, a plurality of nulially disposed cylinders secured to the hub members, a fly-wheel journaled on the crank shaft and eccentric with relation to the hub and cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a connecting rod for each piston connected at its inner end to the piston and at-its outer end to the fly-wheel, a crank connection between each cylinder and the fly-wheel, a puppet exhaust and in let valve in the inner end of each cylinder, and means within the hub member for open ing said valves once during two revolutions of the hub member and the cylinders carried thereby.

8. A rotary engine comprising a stationary crank shaft, a hollow hub member journaled to revolve about the crank pin of the shaft, a plurality of radially disposed cylinders secured to the hub members, a flywheel journaled on the crank shaft and cocentric with relation to the hub and cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a connecting rod for each piston connected at its inner end-to the piston and at its outer end to the fly-wheel, a crank connection between each cylinder and the fly-Wheel, a puppet exhaust and inlet valve in the inner end of each cylinder, an internal gear secured to revolve with the hub member, a stationary secured on the crank pin, a sleeve turnmounted about the crank pin, a pair :fln members on the sleeve adapted to te the puppet valves, and intermediate gears carried by the sleeve intermeshing both with the internal and the stationary gear adapted to transmit movement from the internal gear to revolve the sleeve one revolution. while the hub member, the cylinders, and the internal gear revolve one and one-third ICVOlHl-lOIIS.

9. A rotary engine comprising a stationary crank shaft, a hollow hub member journaled to revolve about the crank pin of the shaft, a plurality of radially disposed (3'1- inders secured to the hub members, a wheel journaled on the crank shaft and cocentric with relation to the hub and cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a connecting rod for each piston connected at its inner end to the piston and at its outer end to the flywheel, a crank connection between each cylinder and the liy-wheel, a puppet exhaust and inlet valve in the inner end of arch cylinder, means within the hub member for openingsaid valves once during two revolutions of the hub member and the cylinders carried thereby, means for admitting a combustible mixture to the hollow huh member and transferring said mixture through the inlet valves to the respective cylinders, and means for igniting the mixture when compressed in the cylinders.

10. rotary engine comprising a stationary crank shaft. a hollow hub member journaled to revolve about the crank pin of the shaft. a plurality of radially disposed cylinders secured to the hub mei'nbers, a fly wheel journaled on the crank shaft and eccentric with relation to the hub and cylindcrs. a pistonin each cylinder, a connecting rod for each piston connected at its inner end to the piston and at its outer end to the fly-wheel. a crank connection between each cylinder and the flywheel, a puppet exhaust and inlet valve in the inner end of each cylirulcr. an internal gear secured to revolve with the hub member, a stationary gear secured on. the crank pin, a sleeve turnably mounted about the crank pin, a pair of cam members on the sleeve ada ted to Qperate the puppet valves, interm iate gears carricd-by the sleeve intermeshing both with the internal and the stationary gear adapted to transmit movement from the internal gearto revolve the sleeve one revolution while the hub member, the cylinders. and the internal gear revolve one and one-third revolutions, means for admittin a combustible mixture to the hollow hu member and transferring said mixturethronghthe inlet valves to the respective cylinders, a spark plug in each cylinder, and a distributer carried by the sleeve adapted to close an elcctric circuit. through each plug once during each two revolutions of the cylinders.

ary crank shaft, a huh member journaled to rotate about the crank pin a plurality of cylinders carried by the hu member, 'a fly-wheel comprising two rim sections surrounding and eccentrlcall positioned with relation to the cylinders, mounted on the crank shaft, spokes connecting the flywheel rim sections with the bearings, pins connecting therim sections, crank connections between each pin and cylinder, a iston in each cylinder, and a connecting r g carried by eaclr pin connected with a P' "1.

12. A rotary engine cot ising a statlonary crank shaft having a gi r of cranks disosed at'angles 180- apart, a hub member Jourrialed to rotate about each crank, a lurality ct cylinders carried b each member, the cylinders on one ub member being positioned intermediately the cylinders on the other hub member, a hub merit ber journaled to rotate on each end of the crank shaft, spokes radiating from each hub, a flywheel for each set of cylinders carried by each set of spokes, bolts connecting the fly-wheels, a propeller secured to the fly-wheels between the -cylinders, a piston and connecting rod in eachcylinder connected to the res ective'fiy-wheels and a crank connection tween the outer end of each cylinder and the adjacent l ly-wheel;

13. A rotary engine comprising a st'atiow "ary crank shaft, a hub member journaled to rotate about the crank in, arp lurality of cylinders carried by the ab member, a flying and eccentrleally positioned with relation to the cylinders, bearings turnably mounted on the crankshaft, spokes connec ting the fly-wheel rim sections with the bearings, pins connecting the rini'sections, crank connections between each pin and cylinder, a

piston. in each cylinder, 9, connecting rod carried by each pinconnected with a piston, conduits formed in the spokes, the fiy-wheel rim, pins, the connecting rods and cross head pins carried by the pistons, and means for circulating a lubricant through said conduits. j

14; A rotary engine comprising a stationary crank shaft,-a hubvmember journ'aled to rotate about the crank pin, a plura'lity'of cylinders carried by the hub member, a flywheel comprising two rim sections surrounding and eccentrl'cally positioned with rela tion to the cylinders, bearin turnably ...mg unted on the crank shaft, spo es connecting thflwwheehrim sections with the bear- ,tings, ins connectifigthe rim sections, crank connections each pin and cylinder, a p ston'in each-cylinder, a connectl rod carried; by each pin connected with a piston,

conduits-donned in the spokes, the flywheel run, pins, the connecting rods and crosshead earings turnably' pins carried by the pistons, means for circulatinga lubricant through said conduits, means for collecting the lubricant which tends to escape from the ends of the cylin-- ders, a force pump adapted to deliver said oil to the hollow hub member, and means for rcturningthe oil to lubricate the pistons in the cylinders.

15. In a rotary engine, a shaft, a hollow hub member journaled to rotate about the shaft, said hub member having an oil collecting chamber formed therein, a plurality of cylinders carried by the hub member and -huv1n their outer ends open, pistons in the cylin ers, means for supplying a lubricant to the cylinders, a collecting chamber on the outer end of each cylinder to receive surplus oil from the cylinders by centrifugal action,

a force pump connected with each chamber adaptedto, return said oil to the collecting ,ham'ber in the hub member, and conduits 'eadingfrom said chamber adapted to return the oil by centrifugal action to the cylinders.

,16. In a rotaryengine, a shaft, a hollow hub member journaled to rotate about the shaft, said hub member having an oil collecting'chamber formed therein, a plurality of cyllnders carried by the hub member and having their outer'ends open," pistons in the c linders, means for supplying a lubricant't'o t e cylindcrs, a collectingchamber on thef outer end of each cylinder to receive surplus 0 oil from the cylinders by centrifugal action, 5 a force pump connected with each chamber wheel comprising two rim sections surround actuated by the pistons ada ted'to-Jt-eturn said oil to the ,collecting' hub member, and conduits leading from said amber" in "the "chamber adapted to return the oil by contrifugal action to the cylinders. j

17. In a rotary engine, a' shaft, a hollow hubrmember 'journaled to rotate about the shift, a plurality of cylinders secured to the hub member, a pistpn in eachcylinder, a connecting .rod on eachpiston. extending through the outer end of each cylinder, 21 fly-wheelto which said rods are connected, a spark plug ineach cylinder, a sleeve journaled to rotate about the shaft. a distribute! carried by said sleeve ada ted .to'close an i e] tric circuit through eae 7 plug in success1 shaft, andthe revolving hub -member for transmitting movement to the sleeve and distributer to revolve. the same one revolu- "tion and shelf while the hub member rcvolves two revolutions-V a y 18. In a rotary four-c cle engine, a cylinder, a head on each on of thecy-linder; a piston dividing the,'cylindcr into a firing chamberand anaircompressing chamber, a sliding plate inr one 'off"said; heads,-'a piston rod connected with thepiston. passi order, and means connected with the through the plate, a va-lve in; the-jpi stomj means for admitting air to one end of the ginningof each exhaust and compression 66 cylinder to be compressed, and means for,

mechanically opening and closing the valve in the piston to admit a compressed charge of air to thefiring chamber.

19. In a rotary engine, astationary-crank shaft, a fly-wheel journaled on the shaft, a plurality of'cylinders journaled to revolve about the crank pin of the shaft within the fly-wheel, a crank connection between veach cylinder and the fly-wheel, a piston in each cylinder, a connecting rod connecting each "piston with the'fiy-wheel, an inlet and an exhaust valve in the inner end of each cylinder, said cylinders also having auxiliary exhaust ports armed therein adapted to be covered and uncovered by the pistons, and means for admitting an auxiliary charge of compressed air to each cylinder during' each suction and scavenging stroke.

20. In a. rotary engine, a stationary crank shaft, a fiy-wheel journaled on the shaft, a plurality of cylinders journaled to revolve about the crank pin of the shaft within the fly-wheel, a crank connection between each cylinder and the flywheel, a piston in each cylinder, a connecting rod connecting each piston with the flywheel, an inlet and an. exhaust valve in the inner end. of each cyl- 80 inder, and means for admitting an auxiliary charge of compressed air to each cylinder during the beginning of each exhaust and compression stroke. v

21. In a rotary engine, a' stationary'crank 85 shaft, a fly-wheel jou'rnaled on the shaft, a

plurality of cylinders jotirnaled to revolve about the crank pin of the shaft Within the fly-wheel, a crank connection between each cylinder and the fly-wheel, a piston in each 40 cylinder, a connecting rod connecting each pistonwith the fly-wl'ieel, an inlet andan exhaust Valve in the inner end of each cylinder, said cylinders also having auxiliary exhaust ports formed-therein adapted to be covered and uncovered by the pistons, and

means for admitting an auxiliary charge of compressed air to each cylinder 'during the beginning'of each exhaust and compression stroke'after the auxiliary exhaust ports have I been closed by the movement of the pistons.

22, In a rotary engine, a stationary crank shaft afly-wheel journaled on the shaft, a plura ity of cylinders journalcd to revolve about the crank, pin of the shaft within the '56 fly-wheel, a crank connection between each der, said cylinders also' having auxiliary exhaust ports formed therein adapted to be covered and uncpvered by the pistons, means for admitting an auxiliary charge of compressed air to each cylinder during the 'bestroke after the auxiliary exhaust portshave been closed by the movement of the pistons a Valve in each piston for admitting said ti 'nin the opening of said valve.

23. n a rotary engine, a stationary crank shaft, a fly-wheel journaled on the shaft, a plurality of cylinders-journaled to revolve about the crank pin of the shaft within the fly-wheel, a crank connection between each cylinder and the fiy-wheel, a piston in each cylinder, a connecting rod connecting each piston with'the fiy-wheel, an inlet and an exiaust valve in the inner end of each cylinder, said cylinders also having auxiliary exhaust ports formed therein adapted to be auxiliary charge, and means for positively covered and uncovered by the pistons, means for admitting an auxiliary charge of compressed air toeach cylinder during the beginning of each exhaust and compression stroke after the auxiliary exhaust ports have been closed by the movement of thepistons, a

valve in each piston for admitting said au'xiliary charge, and means for positively timing the opening of said valve, said means comprisin a fork-shaped cam adapted to straddle t e stem of the valve, said cam having an offset portion which permits open ing of the valve when a predetermined angular position is assumed by the piston connecting rod. 24.In a rotary engine, a stationary crank shaft, a fly-wheel journaled on the shaft, a plurality .of cylinders journaled to revolve about the crank pin of the shaft within the fly-wheel, a crank connection between each cylinder and the fly-wheel, a piston in each. cylinder, a connecting rod connecting each piston with the fly-wheel, a puppet inlet and a, puppet exhaust valve positioned at the inner end of each cylinder, and means for positively opening said valves during a revolution of the cylinders to cycle operation.

. 25. In a'rotary .fou'r-cvcle engine, a cylinder, a head-on each end of the cylinder,.a piston dividing the cylinder into a firing chamber and an air compressing chamber,

a sliding plate in-one of said heads, a piston rod connected with the piston passing through the plate, a ball mounted in the plate forming'a packing for the piston red, a valve in, the piston, means for admitting air to one end of the'cylinder to be com- I 120 permit a foureach. cylinder and the fly wheel, on inner spaced therefrom to and an outer head on each cylinder, said outer heads'eirtending into each cylinder and journaled on the shaft, a plurality of cylinders ournaled -to revolve about the crank pin of the shaft, a crank connection between each cylinder and the fly wheel, an inner and an outer head on each cylinder, said outer heads extending into each cylinder and orm an annular chamher, a piston in each cylinder dividing each cylinder into a firing chamber-and an air compressing chamber, the outer end of each piston adapted to enter'the annular chambers formed between the cylinders and the outer heads, a connecting rod connecting each piston with the-fly wheel, a slidingplate in each outer headlthrough which ,each

piston rod extends and a packing member in" each sliding heal d surroupding each piston rod. 28. In an engine of the character described, a cylinder, an inner and an outer head on the cylinder, said outer head extending into, the cylinder and spaced therefrom to form an annular chamber, a pistondividiug the cylinderinto a firing chamber and an air compressing chamber, a sliding plate in theou'ter head, and a piston rod connected with the piston passing through theplate.

each cylinder.

, 29. In an engine of the character described, a cylinder, an inner and an outer head on the cylinder, said outer head extending into the cylinder and spaced therefrom to form an annular chamber, a piston dividing the cylinder into a firing chamber and an air compressing chamber, a circular sliding plate mounted in the outer head, a piston rod connected with the piston passing through said plate, and a ball mounted in the sliding plate forming a packing for the piston rod, the outer end of said piston adapted to enter {the annular chamber formed by the outcr'head when assuming its outermost position.

30. In a rotary internal combustion en-- i ine, a stationary crank shaft, a fly Wheel journaled on the shaft, a plurality of cylin ders journaled to revolve about the crank pin of the shaft, a crank connection between each cylinder and the fly wheel, an inner and I an outer head on each cylinder, a piston in each cylinder, a connecting rod for each piston passing through the outer heads and connected with thefiy wheel, an exhaust and an inlet puppet valve mounted at the inner end of each cylinder, means for mechanically opening said valvesonce durin each two revolutions of the cylinders an f fly wheel, means for admitting air during each stroke of" each piston to a compressln chamber formed between each outer he'a and each piston and means for transferring said air when compressed to the'firing chamber of In testimony -whereof my hand in the presence of. two subscribing witnesses.

I RAY H. COWLES.

Witnesses: Joan H. Hnnnmo,

W. W. Hmwr.

I have hereunto set i 

